Managing Anxiety That Often Accompanies Depression

Although no one knows exactly why, a great number of depressions are
also accompanied by anxiety. In one study, 85 percent of those with
major depression were also diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder
while 35 percent had symptoms of a panic disorder. Other anxiety
disorders include obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). Because they so often go hand in hand, anxiety
and depression are considered the fraternal twins of mood disorders.

Believed to be caused
in part by a malfunction of brain chemistry, generalized anxiety is not
the normal apprehension that one feels before taking a test or awaiting
the outcome of a biopsy. A person with an anxiety disorder suffers from
what President Franklin Roosevelt called "fear itself." For a reason
that is only partially known, the brain's fight-or-flight mechanism
becomes activated, even when no real threat exists. Being chronically
anxious is like being stalked by an imaginary tiger. The feeling of
being in danger never goes away.

Even more than the depression, it was my anxiety and agitation that
became the defining symptoms of my illness. Like epileptic seizures, a
series of frenzied anxiety attacks would descend upon me without
warning. My body was possessed by a chaotic, demonic force which led to
my shaking, pacing and violently hitting myself across the chest or in
the head. This self-flagellation seemed to provide a physical outlet for
my invisible torment, as if I were letting steam out of a pressure
cooker.

Being both anxious and depressed is a tremendous challenge.
Clinicians have observed that when anxiety occurs "comorbidly" with
depression, the symptoms of both the depression and anxiety are more
severe compared to when those disorders occur independently. Moreover,
the symptoms of the depression take longer to resolve, making the
illness more chronic and more resistant to treatment. Finally,
depression exacerbated by anxiety has a much higher suicide rate than
depression alone. (In one study, 92 percent of depressed patients who
had attempted suicide were also plagued by severe anxiety.*) Like
alcohol and barbiturates, depression and anxiety are a deadly
combination when taken together.

Fortunately, over 60 percent of major depressions are accompanied by
varying levels of anxious feelings and behavior. (During my illness, my
extreme anxiety interfered with my recovery and increased the risk of
suicide.) Here are some techniques that are commonly used to treat mild
to severe anxiety. Read more...